Great-tailed Grackle – What a Lady!

 Birds, Great-tailed Grackle  No Responses »
Jan 312012
 
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These female Great-tailed Grackles were photographed at Woodlake Pond in Carrollton, Texas. They were making their way through the reeds and trees that grow along the north end of the pond.

 
County - Denton
City - Carrollton
Date - Jan 14, 2012
Time of Day - Afternoon
Temperature - Warm (70-89°F/21-32°C)
Weather - Clear
Habitat - Water-Pond
Type of Behavior - Various
Gender - Female
Maturity - Adult
Observer - Chris Jackson
Main Article - Great-tailed Grackle Observation Location

Great-tailed Grackle – Loud and Unpleasant

 Great-tailed Grackle  No Responses »
Jan 302012
 
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This male Great-tailed Grackle was photographed in the parking lot of Creekview High School in Carrollton.

Grackles have a very abrasive sounding call. It is full of clicks, screeches, and other unpleasant sounding noises.

This bird was in fine form, making the grackle’s signature call over and over again.

 
County - Denton
City - Carrollton
Date - Oct 23, 2011
Time of Day - Afternoon
Temperature - Warm (70-89°F/21-32°C)
Weather - Overcast
Habitat - Community-Church/School/Civic
Type of Behavior - Vocalizing
Gender - Male
Maturity - Adult
Observer - Chris Jackson
Main Article - Great-tailed Grackle Observation Location

Great Egret – Hunting the Reeds

 Birds, Great Egret  No Responses »
Jan 292012
 
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This Great Egret was observed hunting on the dry side of our local Beaver dam. This bird appears to be showing some early signs of breeding plumage development.

 
County - Denton
City - Carrollton
Date - Jan 21, 2012
Time of Day - Midmorning
Temperature - Cold (less than 50°F/10°C)
Weather - Clear
Habitat - Water-Creek
Type of Behavior - Hunting
Gender - Uncertain
Maturity - Adult
Observer - Chris Jackson
Main Article - Great Egret Observation Location

American Coot – A Day at the Lake

 American Coot, Birds  No Responses »
Jan 282012
 
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These American Coots were found at Woodlake Pond in Carrollton, Texas. There, they congregate with Mallards, geese, and other waterfowl. They are used to being feed by park visitors and are relatively tame.

 
County - Denton
City - Carrollton
Date - Nov 13, 2011
Time of Day - Midmorning
Temperature - Warm (70-89°F/21-32°C)
Weather - Clear
Habitat - Water-Pond
Type of Behavior - Various
Gender - Mixed
Maturity - Adult
Observer - Chris Jackson
Main Article - American Coot Observation Location

Striped Skunk – In a Tizzy

 Striped Skunk  No Responses »
Jan 272012
 
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This Striped Skunk found his way in front of a camera trap that had been set for White-tailed Deer.

The skunk seems to be in a tizzy. He bounds into the picture, and then quickly spins around. Is he on guard and preparing to spray? Or, is he playing?

More likely, the skunk is simply investigating an interesting find. Possibly his next meal!

 
County - Denton
City - Lewisville
Date - Oct 30, 2009
Time of Day - Night
Temperature - Cool (50-69°F/10-21°C)
Weather - Overcast
Habitat - Agricultural-Pasture
Type of Behavior - Roaming
Gender - Uncertain
Maturity - Adult
Observer - Chris Jackson
Main Article - Striped Skunk Observation Location

Coyote – Checking the Mail

 Coyote, Mammals  No Responses »
Jan 262012
 
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This observation was made near the US Post Office on North Central Expressway in McKinney, Texas. An adult Coyote was seen sitting in the middle of the large vacant lot just north of the post office.

The grass on this parcel of land is short and well maintained. The Coyote was out in the open and was not making an effort to conceal itself.

McKinney Police and Animal Control were on the scene, and appeared to be attempting to size up the situation.

The observer then went into the post office. When he exited the facility a few minutes later, he found that the Coyote, Police, and Animal Control Unit had left the area.

It is not clear whether the Coyote escaped or was captured.

 
County - Collin
City - McKinney
Date - Dec 29, 2011
Time of Day - Noon
Temperature - Cool (50-69°F/10-21°C)
Weather - Clear
Habitat - Undeveloped-Vacant Lot
Type of Behavior - Other
Gender - Uncertain
Maturity - Adult
Observer - Todd Adams
Main Article - Coyote Observation Location

Red-eared Slider – Out of Place

 Red-eared Slider, Reptiles  No Responses »
Jan 252012
 
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Red-eared Sliders are considered semi-aquatic turtles. They spend most of their lives in and around suitable bodies of water such as creeks, rivers, ponds and lakes. But, sometimes Red-eared Sliders are inspired to wander.

When they do, you might find them in unexpected locations. I’ve encountered them trudging across open fields, far from their normal habitat. More often, I have found them attempting ill-advised and treacherous road crossings. I bet you have too.

The case illustrated by this observation is particularly unusual. We found this large Red-eared Slider in the parking lot of the Homestead Elementary School in Carrollton, Texas. This location is nearly a half mile (one kilometer) away from what I would consider a suitable turtle habitat.

So, how did the turtle get here?

It’s possible, and maybe even likely, that some kids carried him there from a nearby creek. But, It’s also possible that he got there on his own accord.

It was around 9:30pm when we found the turtle. That’s well after dark, and there was no one else on the school grounds at the time. The turtle was on the move when we noticed him, and he was crawling along the edge of the school’s parking lot at a good pace. He seemed to be moving deliberately and with purpose, as if he had a destination in mind.

The turtle definitely gave me the impression that he had the strength and stamina for a long distance journey. Plus, the relative coolness of the night would be the ideal time for an aquatic turtle to travel across land, if he had a mind to.

While we observed the turtle, we debated about whether we should attempt to assist him or not. In the end, we decided to intervene. We drove him to the neighborhood’s creek and dropped him off. I hope we didn’t upset his plans.

 
County - Denton
City - Carrollton
Date - Jul 10, 2011
Time of Day - Night
Temperature - Warm (70-89°F/21-32°C)
Weather - Cloudy
Habitat - Community-Church/School/Civic
Type of Behavior - Roaming
Gender - Uncertain
Maturity - Adult
Observer - Chris Jackson
Main Article - Red-eared Slider Observation Location
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